Arrest warrant out vs. Cedric Lee, Deniece

MANILA, Philippines — The Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court on Monday has ordered businessman Cedric Lee, model Deniece Cornejo and five others to be arrested, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima bared.

Taguig MTC Branch 74 Judge Bernard Bernal issued the warrant of arrest on the charges of grave coercion of host Vhong Navarro.

Bernice Lee, Simeon "Zimmer" Raz, Jose Paolo Calma, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Jed Fernandez also face charges for mauling of Navarro last January 22.

The respondents, however, can post bail as grave coercion is bailable. 

The warrant effectively prevents Lee and company from leaving the country.

In a statement last Thursday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) explained that probable cause was established for grave coercion charges when the respondents forced Navarro to admit to raping Cornejo in her condominium unit in Taguig City.

Navarro was allegedly made to affix his name and signature on the police blotter report.

"The respondents have no right to compel Navarro to admit a crime, nor had they a right to bring Navarro to the police station to admit the commission of a crime," the DOJ statement said.

The respondents, meanwhile, also face charges for serious illegal detention with demand for money or ransom--a non-bailable offense.

"The vivid recollection of complainant Navarro of what occurred on 22 January 2014, from the time he entered the condominium unit of Cornejo up to the time he was brought out of the said place, clearly shows that Navarro was actually restrained or deprived of his liberty against his will," DOJ said.

The warrant for serious illegal detention has not yet been issued.